Safety stopping device for belt elevators.



E. P. CHURCHILL.

SAFETY STOPPING DEVICE FOR BELT ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I4. 1911.

1 ,288,5 i G Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

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SAFETY STOPPING DEVICE FOR BELT ELEVATORS.

PatenEed Dec. 24, 1918.

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APPLICATION FILED APR. l4- IEHI.

E. P. CHURCHILL. SAFETY STOPPING DEVICE FOR BELT ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I4. I9I7- 1,28,51 G, Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

EDWIN P. CHURCHILL, OF IVIOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'ro BABNARD AND LEAS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SAFETY STOPPING DEVICE FOR BELT ELEVATORS.

Application filed April 14, 1917.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN I CHURCHILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Stopping Devices for Belt Elevators; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to so called endless belt elevators and the like, commonly used in flour mills, grain elevators and manufactu ring plants, to transport employees and small parcels of material, etc, to different floors. Such elevators are commonly provided with means whereby a person riding thereon may stop the elevator in case he should be carried past the desired stopping place; but it has sometimes happened that a person on the elevator if carriedby the gettingotf point lacks presence of mind to properly operate the stopping devices and has been carried over the upper drum and injured; and sometimes when the elevator is used for lifting material the operator fails to remove the material from the platform at the proper time and it is carried over the upper drum and dropped at the descending side, causing injury to the material and en dangering persons and machinery at the descending side of the elevator.

The object of the present invention is to provide novel means whereby the elevator will be automatically stopped in case the loaded platform should pass beyond the uppermost floor or landing in time to prevent such loaded platform passing over the upper drum, so that if a person or material should be carried past the upper landing the elevator will be automatically stopped.

The present invention provides novel means whereby when a person steps upon the platform to be elevated, or an object is placed on the platform to be elevated, a trip member is projected into position to engage and actuate devices beside the elevator andadjacent the upper landing by which the elevator will be stopped.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a practical embodiment thereof, and refer to the claims appended to the description forsummaries of the essential fea- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

Serial No. 162,072.

tures and combinations of parts for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a side or frontelevation of an elevator of the endless belt type with my novel safety device attached thereto. I

F g. .2 is an end or side elevation of the same elevator.

Figs. 3 and are respectively front and side views of one of the steps or platforms which are attached to the belt of the elevator.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are respectively front, side and plan views of the parts which serve to actuate the belt shifter and the brakes.

The invention may be adapted to various forms of endless belt or chain elevators; and is shown as used in connection with an endless belt elevator of the type shown in Grantham & Cornwalls Patent No. 1,088,564L dated February 14, 1914:.

As shown in the drawings 1 designates the endless belt to which are attached at suitable intervals pairs of brackets 1, 1 that may be pivotally connected to the belt and to each other substantially as described in said patent.

In the construction shown the brackets 1 1 are provided with guide rollers 1 1, that run in channel-bars U that guide the vertical runs of the belt or elevator as explained in said patent. The upper bend of the belt is shown as carried over'and driven by a pulley P on a shaft A mounted in suitable bearings at or above the upper floor or landing. Said shaft A may have a worm gear B engaging a worm C on a shaft D which is provided with fast and loose pulleys E and E which may be driven by a belt, not shown, from any suitable driver. On the shaft D is a friction brake-wheel F which is engaged by a brake band G the ends of which are connected to the arms of a compound lever H pivoted on a bracket. I.

The belt may be shifted from the fast to the loose pulley by means of a belt shifter K mounted on a slidable shaft M. All parts designated by letters may be of the usual construction; and are well known and are not features of the present invention.

My present invention includes means for automatically shifting the belt from the fast to the loose pulley and for applying the brake in case a loaded platform passes beyond a certain predetermined point so as to stop and lock the elevator before a person, or object, on the platform could be carried over the upper pulley.

Mounted upon each pair of brackets 1 is a platform 1 which is hinged, preferably at its front edge, to the brackets 1 by any suitable means, as indicated at 1, so that the inner edge of this platform is normally slightly raised but will be depressed upon the brackets 1 when a person steps on the platform or an object is placed thereupon.

To the under side of the platform 1 is pivotally connected one end of a link 2, (see' Figs. 3 and at the other end of which is pivotally connected to the short arm 2 of a bell crank lever which is pivoted at 2" on a bracket 1 atached to one of the brackets 1, see Fig. 3, and the long arm 2 of this lever may be slotted, as at 2, and engages a pin 3 on a tripping bar or rod 3 which is slidably mounted in openings in the opposite brackets 1.

An expansion spring 3 is strung on rod 3 between a pin or washer thereon and one of the brackets 1, (see Fig. 3) and normally tends to retract the rod 3 to the position shown in Fig. 3, and this will cause the lever 2 and link 2 to hold platform 1 slightly elevated as shown in Fig. 4:. When a person steps upon the platform 1, or a weight is placed thereon, the platform will lower and' cause link 2 to oscillate the bell crank lever (2, 2) and move the tripping rod 3 so that its end 3 of the rod will project beyond the right hand bracket 1, as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3, into position to engage and operate the mechanism for stopping the elevator if the person does not step off the platform, or the object is not removed therefrom, before reaching the upper drum or pulley P.

Above the upper floor or landing adjacent a point beyond which it is not desired to have a loaded platform travel, is a casting or frame 4 which is attached to one of the channel bars U, or to other convenient support, and in the example illustrated, is fastened to the U bar by means of bolts 4 as indicated. This frame 4 is preferably angular and hollow, and has slots 4 and 4: in its opposite sides. In the frame is movably fitted and guided a slide 5, which has a bracket or projection 5 on its inner side projecting through the slot 1, said projection being preferably slotted in its lower side to accommodate a roller 5 which may be journaled in the slot upon a pin 5.

Opposite the projection 5, is a casting or member 6, which may be integral with the slide 5, or formed separately and fastened thereto by a bolt 6, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. This member 6 has a lateral extension 6 carrying a stud 6 on which is journaled a sheave'tl said extension also has an eye 6, above the stud and sheave, to

which one end of a controlling cable rope R is attached.

Mounted in a slot 5 in the lower part of the slide 5, is a bell-crank lever which has one arm 7 arranged to swing beneath the roller 5 and through the slot 4; said lever -being pivoted on a bolt 7 in the lower end of the slide 5; said lever also has an arm 7 that projects out of the frame through the slot a therein below the casting 6. The arm 7 has an eye 7 'on its outer end to which the other end of the cable R is attached.

The cable R leads from arm 7 up over the sheave 6 then down under suitable sheaves, not shown, beside the runs of the conveyer, then up over sheaves 7 and 7, attached to the opposite channel bars U, see Fig. 2, and the other end of the cable is attached to the eye 6 as shownin Fig. 2.

To the bracket 6 is also attached one end of a rod 8, the other end of which is pivotally connected to an arm 8 on a rock shaft 8 journaled in suitable bearings 8 attached to a suitable support such as the base plate upon which the belt operating devices are mounted.

To the shaft 8 is connected a lever 8 the free end of which lever may be slotted as shown to engage a pin 9 on the belt-shifter shaft M, so that if the shaft 8 is rocked by the upward movement of the rod 8, caused by the slide 5, the said shaft M will be moved longitudinally and cause the beltshifter K to shift the belt from the fast to the loose pulley.

The rod 8 also carries disks 8 which are adapted to engage the bifurcated end 10 of an arm 10 forming part of the compound lever H; and when the rod 8 is raised so as to shift the belt-onto the idler pulley'E the lower disk 8 will engage the compound lever H and rock it so as to apply the brake G simultaneously to the wheel F and positively stop and hold the elevator locked while the rod 8 is elevated. When the rod 8 is lowered with the slide 5 the upper disk 8 will engage the lever. 10 and release the brake. v

The shaft 8 may be provided with a counterbalanced weight 8 attached thereto and adapted to hold the belt shifter in position to keep the belt on the loose pulley, andhold the brake applied until the elevator is manually restarted Operation.

' The apparatus is so constructed that any weight on the platform 1 throws the rod 3 into position to engage the slide 5 as long as the weight is retained on the platform. The engaging point of this step rod and the slide 5 is so located above the top or last landing place that if an employee remains on the platform up to this point, the

elevator will be stopped by the rod engaging and lifting slide 5 thereby shifting the driving belt to the loose pulley and applying the brake as described; and the elevator remains stopped and locked.

As slide 5 moves upward the rod 8 actuates the brake-lever and belt shifter; the travel upward of rod 8 is just sufficient to move the belt shifter enough to shift the driving belt from the tight pulley to the loose pulley; and as the belt is so shifted to the loose pulley the brake is applied and stops and holds the elevator.

When the rod 3 is projected so as to engage the slide or roller 5 before it engages such roller it will engage the lever 7 and force it back to the position shown in Fig. 5; and then when the operator pulls on the rope R to lower the slide 5 such pull on the rope will oscillate lever 7 and cause it to disengage the rod 3 from the roller 5*, and prevent the slide binding the rod.

The hand rope R is installed at the side of the elevator and runs from top to bottom so that any one using the elevator can readily stop it by pulling the rope upwardly at anytime.

After the elevator has been stopped it can be restarted by pulling down on the hand rope R. Such pull on the rope first pulls up the arm 7 and the other arm 7 being at the time engaged with the rod 3 will first force said rod back out of contact with the roller 5 and prevent the rod catching or raising the slide, and then move the slide 5 and the rod 8 downward; and such movement of rod 8 will shift the belt to the tight pulley and also release the brake.

The rod 8 may be of any desired length, this being determined by the particular height of the installation in different buildings. The rod and the belt shifting and brake appliances connected therewith have considerable weight and might possibly in some cases throw the driving belt on the tight pulley before the hand rope is pulled; and therefore I preferably employ the balance weight 8 which can be adjusted so that it will hold the belt shifting appliance and brake in position to stop the elevator until it is manually restarted.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with an endless elevator having platform support, and a platform hingedly mounted at its outer edges on said support, and means for operating the elevat-or; of means for automatically stopping the elevator if the platform when loaded passes a predetermined point; said means comprising a slidable member beside the run of the elevator having a portion adapted to be engaged by a trip member on the loaded platform; a rod connected with said slidable member; a rock shaft connected with said rod; means actuated by said shaft for throwing the driving mechanism out of operation when the rod is raised; a brake mechanism connected with the driving mechanism; a lever for applying the brake, adapted to be operated by said rod; a trip member on the support, connections between the trip and the platform and adapted to be projected when the platform is loaded into position to engage with said slidable member; and means whereby said slidable member may be retracted to set the elevator in operation after it has been stopped.

2. In combination an endless belt elevator, and means for actuating the elevator; a

rock shaft and connections for throwing the actuating means into and out of operation; platform supports connected with the belt, a platform hinged at its outer edge on said supports; a trip rod mounted in said supports, and connections between the platform and the trip rod whereby the latter is projected into operative position when the plat form is loaded; with a slidable member adjacent the belt and adapted to be engaged by the trip when the latter is projected; connections between said slidable member and the rock shaft for operating the latter; whereby when the slidable member is raised, the elevator is stopped; and means for retracting said slidable member to start the elevator in operation.

3. In combination with an endless belt elevator, and mechanism for actuating the elevator; of a rock shaft and connections for throwing the actuating mechanism into and out of operation; platform supports rigidly connected with the belt, a platform movably hinged at its outer edge on said supports; a trip-rod mounted in said supports; lever connections between the platform and the trip-rod whereby the latter is projected into operative position when the platform is loaded; a slidable member adjacent the path of the platform and adapted to be engaged by the trip when the latter is projected; connections between said slidable members and the rock shaft, for operating the latter when the slidable member is raised, whereby when the slidable member is raised the elevator is stopped; a brake connected with the driving mechanism; and a brake applying lever adapted to be actuated by said slidable member when the latter is raised.

4:. In combination with a belt elevator and driving mechanism therefor, an actuating member and connections adjacent the path of the belt adapted to throw the driving mechanism out of operation; of platform supports attached to the belt; a platform hinged at its outer edge on said supports; a trip-rod slidably mounted in said supports; a bell crank-lever movable with said supports and having one arm engaging said trip-rod; a link connecting the other arm of said lever with the platform; and a spring for normally retracting the trip-rod, thereby slightly elevating the inner edge of the platform; said platform when loaded being depressed and causing the projection of the trip-rod into position to engage said actuating member.

5. In combination with a belt elevator and driving mechanism therefor, an actuating member and connections adjacent the path of the belt adapted to throw the driving mechanism out of operation; of projecting platform supports attached to the belt; a platform hinged at its outer edge on said supports; a trip-rod slidably mounted in said supports; a bell crank lever pivoted on and movable with said supports andhaving one arm engaging said trip-rod; a link connecting the other arm of said lever with the platform; and a spring for normally retracting the trip-rod, thereby slightly elevating the inner edge of the platform; said platform when loaded being depressed and causing the projection of the trip-rod into position to engage said actuatingmember; and a cable connected with said actuating member and extending beside the belt elevator whereby the actuating mem'bermay be retracted to restart the elevator in operation, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a belt elevator, and an operating mechanism therefor having fast and loose pulleys on its driving shaft; abelt shifter; a rock shaft; an operating lever attached to said rock shaft for actuating same; connections between this rock shaft and the belt shifter for shifting the belt to throw the driving mechanism into or out of operation according to the position of the rock shaft of a slide adjacent the belt," said slide-having inwardly projecting members adapted to be engaged by a trip on a loaded platform on the belt, and means connecting said slide with the operating lever on. the rock shaft; platform supports attached to the belt; a platform hinged 'at its outer edge on said supports; a slidable trip-rod mounted in said supports; a bell crank lever having one arm engaging said trip rod; a link connecting the other arm of said lever with the movable part of the platform, and a spring for normally rctracting the trip-rod thereby slightly elevating the platform; said platform when loaded causing the projection of the trip-rod into position to engage said slide; and means whereby the slide may be retracted to restart the elevator in operation, substantially as described. i

7. In combination a belt elevator and driving mechanism therefor having fast and loose pulleys on the driving shaftg" a belt shifter, a rock shaft, connections between this rock shaft and the belt shifter for shifting thebelt and throwing the driving mechanism into or out ofoperation according to the position of the rock shaft; a brake on thedriving shaft; (a lever actuating said brake, a movable member adjacent the belt; means operatively connecting said member with an arm on said rock shaft, and with the brake lever, saidmember being-adapted to be engaged by the trip-rod on the belt; with platform supports attached to the belt, a platform hinged at its outer edge-on said supports, a trip-rod sl'idably"mounted in said supports, a bell crank lever pivoted to said supports having one arm engaging said trip rod, a link connecting the other arnrof said lever with the inner part of the platform; and a spring for normally retracting the trip-rod thereby slightly elevating the platform; said platform being depressed when loaded thereby causing the projection of the trip rod into position to engage said movable member; and means whereby the movable member may be retracted to restart the elevator in operation, substantially as described.

8. In combination a belt elevator and driving mechanism therefor having fast and loose pulleys on the driving shaft; a belt shifter, a rock shaft, an arm thereon, connections between this rock shaft and the belt shifter for shifting the beltand throwing the driving mechanism into or out of operation according to the position of the rock shaft; a brake on the driving shaft; a lever actuating said brake, a member adjacent the belt; a slide mounted in said member, a rod ope ratively connecting said slide with the arm on said rock shaft, means on said rod opera'tively engaging the brake lever, said slide having an inwardly projecting member adapted to be engaged by a trip-rod on a platform on the belt; with platform supports rigidly attached to the belt, a platform hinged on said supports, a trip-rod slid ably mounted in said supports, a. bell crank lever pivoted to said supports having one arm engaging said trip rod, a link connecting the other arm of said lever with the platform; and a spring for normally retracting the trip-rod thereby slightly elevating the platform; said platform being depressed when loaded thereby causing the projection of the trip-rod into position'to engage said slide; a cable connected with said slide and extending beside the belt elevator whereby the slide may be retracted to restart the elevator in operation, substantially as described.

9. In combination an-endless belt, plat-l form supports rigidly attached thereto, a platform hingedly mounted at its outer edge on said supports, a trip-rod slidably mounted in-said supports beneath the platform;,aspring for retracting this rod, a bracket attached to one of said supports, a bell crank lever pivoted at its bend on said bracket and having its long arm slidably engaged with said rod, and a link connecting the short arm of said lever with the inner part of the platform, whereby when the platform is loaded said =trip-rod is projected, substantially as described.

10. In combination a belt, actuating-mechanism therefor, means for throwing said acmating-mechanism into or out of operation, a platform attached to the belt, and a triprod adapted to be projected by the platform; with a member fixed beside the run of the belt, a slide mounted in said member, said slide being adapted to be engaged by the trip-rod, a lever pivoted on said slide and adapted to be also engaged by the trip-rod, and connections between said slide and the means for throwing the actuating-mechanism into or out of operation, whereby when the slide is raised the actuating-mechanism is thrown out of operation, and means connected with said lever for causing it to dis engage the trip-rod from the slide and to retract the slide.

11. In combination a belt, actuating-mechanism therefor, means for throwing said actuating-mechanism into or out of operation, a platform attached to the belt, and a triprod adapted to be projected by the platform; with a member fixed beside the run of the belt, a slide mounted in said member, a bracket connected with said slide, an oscillating lever pivoted on said slide, a cable engaging said oscillating lever at one end and connected with the-slide at the other end, and means whereby the actuating-mechanism is thrown out of operation when the slide is raised; and a cable connected at one end with the lever on said slide and at the other end with said slide whereby when the cable is pulled down said lever disengages the trip-rod from the slide and the slide is lowered to restart the elevator in operation.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I affix my signature.

EDWIN P. CHURCHILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batents, Washington, D. C. 

